Aquarama Leaves the Port of Muskegon 1988
The SS Aquarama, formerly known as the SS Marine Star, was a World War II troop ship for the United States Navy. In 1952, it was converted into the largest passenger ship ever to operate in the Great Lakes.
The ship remained unused for a few years until it was bought in 1952 by the Sand Products Company of Detroit. After being purchased, the ship was towed to Muskegon, Michigan where it was converted into a commercial cruise ship. The entire process took approximately two years to complete and cost nearly $8 million. The president of the Sand Products Company at the time, Max McKee, wanted the Aquarama to be an ocean liner for the Great Lakes.
It could carry 2500 passengers and 160 cars.
Although the ship was immensely popular, it never generated enough revenue to be self-supporting; On September 4, 1962 the ship made its last trip before being towed to Muskegon, Michigan.[citation needed] Operating the ship from Muskegon, Michigan to Milwaukee as a replacement for the older Milwaukee Clipper was proposed, but $700,000 for dredging so the Aquarama could be accommodated in Milwaukee harbor was needed. As a result, the ship sat idle until 1988, when it was sold and towed out of Muskegon to Sarnia, Ontario. I was suppose to be a floating hotel, but it never happened. It was eventually towed to Buffalo, NY and then in 2007 to Turkey where it was scrapped out.
S.S. Milwaukee Clipper Staterooms
The Staterooms slept 2 or 3 depending on layout. They were air conditioned.
Milwaukee Clipper 2015
The Queen of the Great Lakes gives tours during the weekend. Is it time to put her in a spot so more can enjoy? Perfect place for weddings, corporate events, class reunions, etc.
Muskegon Harbor and Muskegon Lake-Michigan
Spending time in and around Muskegon Harbor and Muskegon Lake is a great place to play in Michigan.
Wikipedia says, Muskegon Lake is a 4,150-acre fresh-water lake in Muskegon County, Michigan, USA. Located in the lower peninsula at the mouth of the Muskegon River, Muskegon Lake forms a 12-square-mile broad harbor along the eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan, approximately 2.5 miles wide by 5.5 miles long. SOURCE:
The day Buy Local Michigan was on the water we captured a number of watercraft enjoying the Michigan beauty. Surrounding Muskegon Harbor, Pure Michigan describes the area as, Check out the beautiful lakeshore of Muskegon, where visitors can experience fun things to do, great sites to see, fantastic food to eat and cozy places to stay. With 27 miles of sugar sand beaches and the state's largest amusement and water park, there's fun year-round in Muskegon! SOURCE:
Known as a four season playground, Muskegon offers so much from boating, fishing, the arts, water parks or just laying on the beach.
According to Visit Muskegon, Muskegon has one of the deepest ports in the Great Lakes, maritime attractions are a must see in Muskegon County. Visit a lighthouse or tour the USS LST 393 Veterans Museum, USS Silversides Submarine Museum, or the S.S. Milwaukee Clipper. Tour Muskegon Lake or enjoy a dinner cruise aboard the Port City Princess. All of these are close to the Muskegon Harbor. Source:
Buy Local Michigan is produced by DW Video & Multimedia, LLC. Copyright 2016
SS AQUARAMA TOUR 1988.
El Cheapo Productions and strobx1 takes you on a nostalgic tour of the last new Great Lakes Passenger Steamship; the SS Aquarama. This magnificent vessel was built during World War 2 as the SS Marine Star for the US Navy. It was an ocean going cargo ship. After World War Two, it was retired in operating condition. Sand Products Inc of Muskegon Michigan was operating the SS Milwaukee Clipper.It was to go from Muskegon to Milwaukee replacing the Milwaukee Clipper, but the City of Milwaukee refused to dredge the harbor to accommodate the Aquarama's ocean liner draft. It ran from Cleveland to Detoit. After hitting piers, it was known as the Aqua Rammer. It removed from service in the early 1960's towed to and docked at Muskegon before going to Sarnia Ont & Buffalo NY. In 2008, it towed to India and scrapped.
S.S. City of Milwaukee Continues to Thrive
Upgrades though out the years have made the S.S City of Milwaukee a popular tourist destination. Paula Jasper and Photojournalist Wyatt VanDuinen take you inside the ship museum and get an update.
Old shipships of the Great Lakes 1920's to 1961
THESE ARE SCANNED PHOTOS. Digital cameras did not exist at the time these photos were taken
Take a look back in time with this slide show to the Glory days of the great cross lake passenger liners. Cross lake steamers were an important part of transportation in the 1st part of the 20th century. These luxurious ships where fitted with interiors on par with the Titanic. They ran year round in all types of weather. Voyages departed the ports of Muskegon, Grand Haven and Holland Michigan for Chicago. They carried freight as well as passengers and were known as packet steamers because of this. See the SS Alabama, SS South American, SS North American, the Northern Navigation Company United States, SS Cheboygan, SS Missouri, SS Milwaukee Clipper, SS Aquarama, Bob Lo Island Ferry and unknown passenger steamer; plus what I think is a 1920's high speed Rum Runner on the Detroit River During the failed Social Experiment Prohibition. See what happened to the SS Alabama,SS Aquarama, SS Milwaukee Clipper and the Bob Lo Island Ferry. The reliance on the Automobile and Air Travel spelled doom for these great passenger steamships. By 1961 the golden age of the Great Lakes Passenger Steamship was almost done. A victim of modernization. That left only the Milwaukee Clipper as the Survivor. But it too was victim of Progress. The Milwaukee Clipper made its last revenue voyage in 1970. It is now a floating museum which along with the Canadian Pacific Railroad Steamer KEEWATIN on display in Saugatuck Mich. The Keewatin traveled Lake Superior. Both have rare Quadruple expansion Steam engines in which steam from the boiler is used 4 times before being put to a condenser turning the steam into water which was discharge into the lake. The Keewatin & the Milwaukee Clipper are open for tours. The Keewatin has its original wooden superstructure and interior which was why it was taken out of service by the US Coast Guard as a Fire Hazard.
SS Milwaukee
Joe works for the company that builds these and here is the video of the launch of one of the boats.
Aquarama Leaves the Port of Muskegon 1988
Fireworks at Heritage Landing, Muskegon, Michigan, Wednesday, July 4th, 2018
Fireworks at Heritage Landing, Muskegon, Michigan, Wednesday, July 4th, 2018
The AQUARAMA, Her Final Days in Muskegon (1987)
2015.038.010
VHS tape containing camcorder footage shot by Forrest Mac McLennan of the cruise liner AQUARAMA docked in Muskegon, prior to being towed to Sarnia, as well as of the ship being towed from Muskegon Lake. The footage includes several shots of the AQUARAMA docked--taken both from across the lake, as well as from the field beside it--and of a tour taken aboard the ship showing the decks, the interior, and an old Ford van and Volkswagen bus stored inside. Near the end of the video a regatta of yachts leads the tugboats towing the AQUARAMA through the channel leading to Lake Michigan. The video ends after several shots culled from old AQUARAMA promotional films (2008.013.022) with narration by Forrest Mac McLennan and Angie McLennan. The video also includes several brief shots of a carnival beside the AQUARAMA's slip, a band performing, the tugboats arriving, and a picnic.
The video is on a Fuji T-20 tape with a printed label on its side. The tape is housed within a grey and white Maxell EX 120 cardboard sleeve.
Jumping off the sand docks in front of the Clipper
Jumping off of the sand docks into Muskegon Lake while the Milwaukee Clipper goes bye. The video is all wierd looking because somethings screwy with SD card. I think it looks COOl tho! LOL
TCGHS Investigates SS City of Milwaukee!
S.S City of Milwaukee & US Coast Guard Cutter Acaia
Drone view of S.S City of Milwaukee & US Coast Guard Cutter Acaia
SS Badger arriving and departing Ludington MI
On a pleasant June weekend, the carferry SS Badger is seen here arriving at its home port of Ludington Michigan late in the afternoon, and then departing for Manitowoc the next morning.
Cruise ships rolling into Milwaukee Port boost city's economy
A taste of summer rolled into Milwaukee Tuesday morning with the first of an expected 11 cruise ships docking at the port this season.
s s Aquarama, Star Trek Enterprise Theme